A Newbie’s Guide To Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is historically known as the hometown of Mahatma Gandhi. It is easily one
of the fastest growing cities in India and can seem overwhelming at first visit but you
will learn to love it. Ahmedabad boasts beautiful mosques, mausoleums, temples and
museums and is the largest cultural hub of North India. In fact the Old City of
Ahmedabad was given the title of a UNESCO World Heritage City in July 2017 and was
the first city to receive the title in India.
Since there is so much to see in the city, most of the travelers are confused about where
to begin. If you’re planning to visit the city, this guide compiling a list of shopping
streets, restaurants, best things to buy and great hotels to stay should give you an idea
of how to make the most out of your trip.

When To Visit Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad in general experiences a hot and semi-dry climate. Summers in the city are
scorching hot and dry, and it’s not advisable to visit at this time. Monsoons are more
pleasant with scattered showers and a fresh carpet green covering the city. Festivals
like Rakshabandhan, Navratri and Diwali are celebrated here at this time. You can also
enjoy delicious street food like boiled or roasted corn and khichu at this time. The best
time to visit Ahmedabad is during winter from the months of November to February.
The weather during is mild and pleasant and you can attend spectacular festivals like
the Saptak Music Festival and Uttarayan Kite Festival.

How To Get Around
Ahmedabad is well connected by air, road and rail, so it isn’t hard to get around the city.
If you’re catching a flight, the closest airport is the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
International Airport, about 15 km from the heart of the city. This airport handles both
domestic and international flights. If you prefer travelling by train, you can get off at the
Ahmedabad Railway Station, which is the main station serving the city. If you’re not too
far away from the city, you can choose buses to travel. The Gujarat State Road
Transport Corporation (GSRTC) operate frequent interstate and intrastate buses. Within
the city, you can choose to travel by AMTS or BRTS buses. You can also travel by auto
rickshaws and taxis.

Where To Stay
The most important agenda to deal with when travelling is arrange for suitable
accommodation. Knowing which localities would suit your travel requirements in
imperative when looking for Treebo hotels in Ahmedabad.Thankfully, there are a
number of options to choose from in the city. If you don’t mind spending you can

choose from luxurious five-star hotels and serviced apartments. If you’re on a budget,
like many travellers today, you can choose from 2-star, 3-star and budget hotels. Some
excellent neighbourhoods to choose include Ghatlodiya, Ramdevnagar, Ashram Road,
and Nehru Bridge. These places are centrally located and you have access to a number
of restaurants, hospitals, bus stops, and more.

Incredible Places To Visit

Gandhi Ashram

Ahmedabad is rich in history and the number of beautiful monuments left behind can
attest to this. A few stunning examples of historical architecture here are the Rani
Mosques, Bhadra Fort, Amar Dham, Heritage Houses of Poles, and the Step Well at
Adalaj. Arguably one of the most popular monuments visited here is the Sabarmati
Ashram, which was founded by Gandhiji in 1912. The Ashram lies on the banks of the
Sabarmati River and houses many relics from the Gandhian age. Other popular
landmarks to visit are Jama Masjid, the Calico Museum of Textiles, Sardar Vallabhai
Patel National Memorial, Vastrapur Lake, and Kankaria Lake.

What To Eat

Dhokla

Ahmedabad has some of the most amazing Gujarati food and no trip is complete
without a food walk in the city. Even though the city is largely vegetarian, you’ll find a
number of hotels serving delicious non-vegetarian delicacies. A few treats to try while in
the city are kulfis, kettle chai, dalvada, chicken and mutton samosas, chole puri, momos,
chaats, parathas, kebabs, pani puri, dhokla, and pav bhaji. Some of the restaurants to
visit to sample this food are Vishala, Nautanki, Agashiye, Ratri Bazaar, Zen Cafe, New
Lucky Restaurant, Chandravilas, Souq, Food Inn, Khali Pili Gali, Moti Mahal, and Sewa
Cafe. Also, make sure to visit the many sweet shops in the city where you can sample
and buy traditional Gujarati sweets. A few popular stores are Jai Hind, Bhogilal
Mulchand Kandoi, and Ras Ranjan.

Where To Shop

Shopping spots in Ahmedabad

Picking up souvenirs for your loved ones at home or a few goodies for yourself is a
natural part of travelling. Thankfully for every shopaholic, Ahmedabad is a paradise. The
city is known for its textile industries that produce intricate embroidered clothing, tye &amp;
dye clothes, and more. A few places to shop for these items are the main city market at
Thorn Darwaja, Ratan Pole, Manek Chowk, Dhalgarwad, C.G. Road, and Sarkhej. Since

most of the shops here are on the roadside, you will have to bargain a little for the best
clothes. You can also shop for intricate silver jewellery by Sangeeta Boochra, a
government approved expert who makes beautiful jewellery.

What To Do

Sabarmati Ashram

If you’re looking to catch a new movie, head to Alpha One Mall, 10 Acres Shopping Mall,
Himalaya Mall, or ISKCON/Reliance Mall. If you can also try some adventure activities
like ziplining the Sabarmati River, camping, and caving in the city.
Now that you know some of the most brilliant things that Ahmedabad has to offer, you
can plan out your vacation better to get a better experience.